Heavy rains throw life out gear in coastal Andhra Pradesh: IMD warns of depression

VISAKHAPATNAM: The heavy rainfall that has been lashing many parts of the north coastal Andhra Pradesh (NCAP) and some parts of the south coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP) is likely to continue as the low pressure area is likely to intensify into a depression on Monday (Aug 18) evening.

The IMD forecast that the well marked low pressure system over west central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal and north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts is likely to move west–northwestwards and concentrate into a depression on Monday ( Aug 18) evening and cross south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts around forenoon of Aug 19.Under the influence of the system, extreme heavy rains will lash in parts of the Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle, ASR, Kakinada, East Godavari, Eluru, and West Godavari districts on August 18 (Monday)Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over parts of the Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Konaseema,Parvathipuram Manyam, Krishna, NTR, and Palnadu districts on Monday.Isolated heavy rain is likely over parts of the Kurnool, Nandyal, Prakasam, Bapatla and Guntur districts on August 18.Heavy rain lashed Vizag city and parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh on Sunday and Monday morning and hit hard to normal life. The heavy rains caused water-logging on roads, damage of roads in coastal districts and boulder slides in ASR district.Between Sunday (Aug 17) morning and Monday (Aug 18) morning, Paderu in ASR district recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 16 cm, followed by 14 cm in Chodavaram (Anakapalle), 13 cm rain each Bheemili (Visakhapatnam) and Vepada (Vizianagaram), 12 cm rain in Anakapalle, 11 cm rain each in Narsipatnam (Anakapalle), and Visakhapatnam Airport locality, and 10 cm rain each in Yelamanchili (Anakapalle), and Visakhapatnam.

Squally weather with wind speed reaching 45 - 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph likely to prevail along and off Andhra Pradesh coast and Yanam of Puducherry from Aug 18 to 21. The fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea until further orders due to squally weather and gusty wind along and off the Andhra Pradesh coast.The IMD cautioned that such intense weather conditions on Sunday and Monday could lead to localized flooding, water logging in low lying areas closure of underpasses mainly in urban areas,occasional reduction in visibility due to heavy rainfall, disruption of traffic in major cities due to water logging in roads leading to increased travel time, minor damage to kutcha roads, possibilities of damage to vulnerable structure, localized landslides and mudslides ,and damage to standing crops due to inundation and also riverine flooding in some river catchments